Wade O. Martin Jr.
Wade Omer Martin Jr. was an American politician. A member of the Democratic Party, he served as secretary of state of Louisiana from 1944 to 1976.
Life and career
Martin was born in Arnaudville, Louisiana, the son of Wade Martin Sr., a sheriff in St. Martin Parish, Louisiana, and Alice Mills. He attended and graduated from Southwestern Louisiana Institute. After graduating, he attended Louisiana State University Law School, earning his law degree in 1935, which after earning his degree, he served in the armed forces during World War II.Martin served as secretary of state of Louisiana from 1944 to 1976. He lost his seat as secretary of state, in 1975, when he ran as a Democratic candidate for governor of Louisiana. He received 146,368 votes, but to lost to incumbent Edwin Edwards, who won with 750,107 votes.
Death and legacy
Martin died on August 6, 1990, at his home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, at the age of 79.In 2001, Martin was posthumously inducted into the Louisiana Political Museum and Hall of Fame.